Birthday raffle at March raises £1530 for Cancer research in lieu of gifts

Instead of gifts, birthday boys Dave Kenning and Les Mills asked their party guests to donate to Cancer Research - and raised an impressive £1,530.

Dave was 60 and Les was 70 and they are both enthusiastic cricket fans so they chose to hold a celebration party and barbecue at March Town Cricket club.

Les, who is the club president, said: “We decided that instead of guests bringing presents we would organise a raffle and donate the proceeds to Cancer Research. We have personal experience of cancer with family members so it is a cause close to our hearts."

He said that raffle prizes, many of them donated, ranged from a glamping experience to a luxury afternoon tea and golfing sessions.

“Donors were incredibly generous and so were the party guests. The final total raised was £1,530 and we have now handed a cheque to Teresa Ashwood, the manager of the Cancer research shop at March.

“It was a great evening and especially as we were able to have a lot of fun on the night and at the same time raise a good sum of money for charity.”

He said that they both wanted to say thank you - to the people who dug deep into their pockets on the night and to those who helped to make the raffle extra special by donating some incredible prizes.

Les lives at March and Dave, who is a vice-present of the March Cricket Club, lives at Wimblington.